Functional component, component assembly comprising a functional component, and method for securing a functional component to a holding component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12460667-B2
Application number	US-202118250612-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2021
Priority date	Dec 3, 2020
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

A functional component which is designed to be secured to a holding component by pressing a connecting element into a depression of the holding component. In a non-deformed state, the connecting element protrudes in a press-in direction from a base body of the functional component and is designed to be deformed by applying a force to the base body, so that the connecting element is widened in an end area and the end area is introduced into a wall of the depression. The base body includes a contact surface surrounding the connecting element which abuts a support surface of the holding component in a coupled state of the functional component. A functional module of the functional component is provided by a partial area of the base body facing away from the contact surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A composite component having
at least one functional component for a motor vehicle, and having a holding component, wherein the functional component is secured to the holding component by pressing a connecting element of the functional component into a depression provided in the holding component, wherein the connecting element protrudes from a base body of the functional component in a press-in direction in a non-deformed state and is designed to be converted into a deformed state by applying a force acting in the press-in direction to the base body, in which the connecting element is widened in a free end area and the free end area of the connecting element penetrates a wall of the holding component delimiting the depression of the holding component in the circumferential direction, wherein the base body of the functional component includes a contact surface extending around the connecting element which, in a coupled state of the functional component, in which the functional component is secured to the holding component by pressing the connecting element into the depression, abuts a support surface of the holding component, wherein a functional module of the functional component is provided by a partial area of the base body facing away from the contact surface; wherein the functional module, designed in particular to secure a further component to the functional component, is designed to produce a welded connection of the functional component to a further component and comprises a pin-shaped extension which is aligned with the connecting element, wherein the contact surface is formed on a side of a collar-like web of the functional component facing away from the pin-shaped extension and extending around the pin-shaped extension; and wherein the at least one depression has the shape of a truncated cone that widens counter to the press-in direction.

2 . The composite component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pin-shaped extension includes an end area which is widened in relation to a shaft area of the pin-shaped extension, and includes an external thread, in particular designed as a coarse thread or as a metric thread.

3 . The composite component as claimed in claim 2 , wherein an end face of the free end area is designed to be inclined in relation to the contact surface, wherein an inner edge of the end face is closer to the contact surface than an outer edge of the end face.

4 . The composite component as claimed in claim 2 , wherein in the non-deformed state, the connecting element includes an indentation in the free end area, which is delimited in the circumferential direction by a wall of the connecting element.

5 . The composite component as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the holding component is formed from a softer material than the at least one functional component, at least in the area of the depression.

6 . The composite component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an end face of the free end area is designed to be inclined in relation to the contact surface, wherein an inner edge of the end face is closer to the contact surface than an outer edge of the end face in the non-deformed state.

7 . The composite component as claimed in claim 6 , wherein in the non-deformed state, the connecting element includes an indentation in the free end area, which is delimited in the circumferential direction by a wall of the connecting element.

8 . The composite component as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the holding component is formed from a softer material than the at least one functional component, at least in the area of the depression.

9 . The composite component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the non-deformed state, the connecting element includes an indentation in the free end area, which is delimited in the circumferential direction by a wall of the connecting element.

10 . The composite component as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the holding component is formed from a softer material than the at least one functional component, at least in the area of the depression.

11 . The composite component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the holding component is formed from a softer material than the at least one functional component, at least in the area of the depression.

12 . The composite component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the holding component is a die-cast component formed from an aluminum alloy, and/or the at least one depression has the shape of a truncated cone that widens counter to the press-in direction.

13 . The composite component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the deformed state of the connecting element, an intermediate space is formed between an outer side of the connecting element and a wall of the holding component delimiting the depression of the holding component in the circumferential direction.

14 . The composite component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an end face of the free end area is designed to be inclined in relation to the contact surface, wherein an inner edge of the end face is closer to the contact surface than an outer edge of the end face in the non-deformed state.

15 . The composite component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the non-deformed state, the connecting element includes an indentation in the free end area, which is delimited in the circumferential direction by a wall of the connecting element.

16 . The composite component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the holding component is formed from a softer material than the at least one functional component, at least in the area of the depression.

17 . The composite component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the holding component is a die-cast component formed from an aluminum alloy.

Assignees

• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Brassel Jan-Oliver
• Rintelmann Jochen
• Spindler Jörg

Classifications

• F16B17/006

  of rods or tubes to sheets or plates · CPC title

• F16B37/065

  by deforming the material of the nut · CPC title

• F16B11/004 Primary

  by cold pressure welding · CPC title

• F16B11/002 Primary

  by pressing the elements together so as to obtain plastic deformation (shrinkage connections, force fits F16B4/00; pin-and-hole connections involving plastic deformation F16B17/00) · CPC title